Sato takes over at Paul Ricard

Testing at Paul Ricard switched to the '2D' shorter layout today as teams
put in some work for the Monaco Grand Prix. Weather conditions were slightly
improved, some sunshine in between the rain. Nine drivers from six teams
took part and BAR's ...

Testing at Paul Ricard switched to the '2D' shorter layout today as teams
put in some work for the Monaco Grand Prix. Weather conditions were slightly
improved, some sunshine in between the rain. Nine drivers from six teams
took part and BAR's Takuma Sato topped the times with a 1:10.830 from 107
laps, the most of the day.

Takuma Sato.

Photo by Brousseau Photo.

Kimi Raikkonen and David Coulthard took over from the McLaren test drivers
and were second and fourth fastest respectively. Renault tester Franck
Montagny was third on the time sheet and worked on set up and electronics
development. He also completed one tyre programme in the morning and started
a second in the afternoon but it was curtailed by rain.

Juan Pablo Montoya joined Williams tester Marc Gen?, the Colombian fifth
fastest and Gen? seventh. Toyota had race drivers Cristiano da Matta and
Olivier Panis on duty, the pair sixth and eighth respectively and Jordan's
Giorgio Pantano rounded off the times. Pantano worked on set up for Monaco
and test driver Timo Glock will finish the test tomorrow.

Giancarlo Fisichella took over from Felipe Massa at Silverstone to conclude
Sauber's solitary test week. The Italian assessed new front wing
configurations and worked on tyres for Canada and Indianapolis as well as
set up for Monaco and Europe. His best time was 1:18.382 from 108 laps.

Rubens Barrichello was on track at Mugello, and Ferrari teammate Michael
Schumacher continued at Fiorano. Both worked on tyres and new components:
Schumacher's best was 56.432 from 108 laps, ten on the short track, and
Barrichello clocked a fastest of 1:19.737 over 76 laps, 14 being completed
on the shorter course.